happiness and food

When we talk of women who inspire us, the big names come up. The ones who have made a mark in the most remarkable way. Be it business, space, science, technology, or any other field, these women are the ones we look up to. Their struggles, the journey, the road to success and then their talks are so inspiring that we want to be like them. We want to be able to inspire million others like these awesome women do. Yet, we don’t get to see them every day or share a meal with them or go shopping with them.

I am talking about every day women who are around us as friends, mothers, sisters, peers, partners, helps and taking up many other roles. These women are no celebrities but they inspire us each day. Whether the way they multitask, follow their passion, delegate chores to spend some “me” time or quit everything to focus on bringing up a child, these are the most amazing women we spend time with and listen to their life’s stories. This Women’s day I want to talk about the women in my life – at home, at work and those I see around me. I want to talk about them because they signify strength and are a form of change agents in the society we live. Those who don’t wait for directions or help to fight their battles but just get head on and emerge winners.

I am talking about the one who started working when her kids were less than five years of age and it was the early 80s. She had the support from her husband to begin on this new path when no one else ever thought of venturing. There were challenges cos the kids were young and she had to teach them ans also prepare for her class. She had to attend to guests at home and also prepare meals for the next day. She had to manage a lot but she never gave up. She is still teaching and finds it liberating. With children in class, she gets a chance to be a child at heart. The financial independence, the respect, the learning that comes with this independence that she embraced some 30 years back, gives her a space of her own and a field to excel.

I am talking about the one who wanted to spend the rest of her life with someone who her parents did not approve of. She chose to stand by her choices and decisions. She is one of the strongest woman I know and she did not have an easy life. There was pain and loss but there were joys of togetherness. There was career, nagging managers and there was family. She balanced it well and continues to do so. She joins her husband to take care of their health, they cook and clean the weeds together. I’m sure her son will turn to be a fine gentleman cos his mother is one strong educated woman of today. She speaks her mind and knows what’s right for her.

I am talking about the one who is a mother of four. She was married when she was a teenager. She ensured that her daughters and sons receive the best of education. Resources were limited but she never let that impact the household. While the husband was working hard to make the ends meet, she had to sweat it out within the four walls of the house. She is bold and has an opinion of her own. She considers her daughter in law as her third son is not stereotypical like the women in her surrounding area.

I am talking about the one who gets up before the Sun rises and starts her work. She comes back home to send her girls to school and then gets off to work again. During the noon she learns to stitch and while doing that, she also does a little stitching that gets her some more money for the tuition classes that her girls take in the evening. When the girls are at the class, she gets back to work to come back home at 7pm to cook at home and feed the family. She never misses a day at work and her respect for self is more than the many educated women I know.

I am talking about the one who is breaking stereotypes and is an open source contributor. She is not scared of sleeping alone. In a world where men are assumed to be strong programmers, she challenges people up in the ladder and wants to know what she can do to move to the next level. There are days when she comes home during late nights cos of work and then survives on an oat meal. She is the new age woman who is independent and career oriented. She believes if a man can do it, why can’t a woman?

I am talking about the one who got married when she was very young. With hope for a brighter future, she put her career on a back seat. Over the next four years, life took a turn and she had to call the marriage off. It was hard but she knew that was the right thing to do. Marriages are made in heaven but tried and tested on Earth. An unsuccessful marriage also shows that believing in yourself is more important than leading a life of misery. Her parents supported her and helped her get back on her feet. She is independent, passionate for a lot of things in life and wants to live on her terms. She is traditional and modern.

I am talking about the one who was a teacher before she became a mother. When her son was born she heard of many cases of nannies taking the children out for begging and that scared her. She wanted to protect her son and took up freelancing. She is a SAHM and a great cook. She supports her husband to pursue a doctorate and is the light of the family. She is strong and the one her family who looks up to.

I am talking about the one who for the first few initial years of motherhood was a single mother. With troubled waters at home, she did not let that impact her work. There were days she had to put up a pretty face to come to work but her heart was in pain. With her chin up, every day she was fighting different battles. Life took a positive turn and with her efforts she got things under control. With her head held high she saved her own marriage. She balances her time and they are now back to being a family of three.

I am talking about a mother daughter duo and I am sure the daughter gets it all from her mother. The mother is an embodiment of resilience and patience. When she was bringing up her children, her husband’s sisters were very young and had to be taken care of. The government was so supportive of the school she taught in that her salary would come once in three months. She managed the children at home and then at the school. Today as a grandmother to her daughter’s children, she opens her door and the lets the kids come to her place after school. The mothers pick their kids late in the evening when they get back from work. She travels, has a flat of her own is independent even at this age. She is a role model to her daughters. Her daughter is no less. She multitasks – manages a tough team at work and a growing daughter at home. She cooks and drives at the same speed. Twice a week, she goes to a singing class and reads whenever she finds time. She grows vegetables at home and loves to work on her mini garden. She had a choice to be a SAHM but wants to exercise that option when it is really required. She knows when to stay calm on a family issues and when to put her foot down.

These women are no less than celebrities. They inspire me each day and I am proud to be around such women who smile and keep going on. They are a role model for their children and the people around. We fail to acknowledge this but today when not everything seems perfect, these woman are a ray of hope. Change begins at home, and that is why I say these every day women are change agents.

Happy Women’s Day to all lovely women!

The inspiration of this post comes from Feminism in India. This is a blog that I religiously follow and I believe in the women power!